Merchandise dispensing device



Sept. 19, 1950 M. RlFKlN ETI'AL MERCHANDISE DISPENSING DEVICE 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1946 5.3m r1 w 25% 2 "Z a j Sept. 19, 1950M. RlFKlN ETAL MERCHANDISE DISPENSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.2, 1946 .lilllidlla I v l falallllnl.

p 9, 1950 M. RIFKIN ETAL 2,522,896

MERCHANDISE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 iiH |iP 1950 M. RIFKlN ETAL 2,522,896

MERCHANDISE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,522,896MERCHANDISE DISPENSING DEVICE Milton Rifkin, Chicago, Ill., and SidneyEverett Webster, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Frea- O-MatCorporation, a corporation of Illinois Application December 2, 1946,-Serial'No.713,426

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in dispensing cabinets and refersspecifically to mechanism for urging articles, cartons or the like to bedispensed toward a dispensing door in the cabinet, the dispensingmechanism being actuated essentially by movement of the door.

In the type of dispensing cabinet wherein articles, cartons or the likeare periodically moved forwardly within the cabinet to dispensingposition adjacent a door-closed dispensing opening in the cabinet wallsuch as described in my previously issued Patents Nos. 2,446,788 and2,460,396, it is desirable that the dispensing mechanism be such that anarticle, cartonor the like previously removed from the cabinet can bereplaced in the cabinet through the dispensing opening without thenecessity of manipulating levers or buttons to disengage the mechanismwhich urges the merchandise forwardly toward the opening. The sameproblem occurs when actuated by movement of the dispensing door to movea column of cartons forwardly toward the dispensing opening, when thedoor has been moved a predetermined distance means is actuated fordisengaging the urging agency to permit the column to be movedrearwardly to accommodate one or more cartons which may be insertedthrough the dispensing opening and positioned at the forward portion ofthe column.

Such a situation frequently arises in connection with dispensingcabinets in so-called self service retail stores. The customer, afterre- I'noving one or more cartons from the cabinet may find that throughinadvertence the carton or article removed is not the merchandisedesired or that too many have been removed. In such a situation the doorneed only be opened and the carton or cartons be simply replaced at thehead of the column of articles in the cabinet merely by moving thecolumn rearwardly in the Y cabinet.

The present invention also contemplates means for disengaging the urgingagency when the actuating force reverses itself. This provision isimportant where a dispensing door has been partiall opened (the movementof theddor comprising the actuating force for moving the columnforwardly) and for some reason or another the door is closed withoutcompletely opening the same and without removing a carton therefrom. Forinstance, in the retail store cabinet hereinbefore described, thecustomer may find that the wrong door was opened and the door had beenonly partially opened before theerror was discovered. In this case,partial openin of the door moves the column of articles or cartonsforwardly which, of course, necessitates the urging agency being inoperation which, however, becomes inoperative and disengaged when thedoor is closed, permitting free rearward movement of the column.

As another feature of my invention, means is provided for convenientlyvarying the for ward movement of the column of articles, cartons or thelike with a movement of the door through a constant predetermineddistance which permits of sequential dispensing of articles or cartonsof predetermined width.

Other objects and advantages of my inven tion will be apparent from theaccompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a detailed sectional view of one unit mechanism in operativeposition.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View of an auxiliary means for rendering thedispensing mechanism inoperative.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view, parts being broken away and partsbeing shown in section, of the pusher block.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line |0l0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line H--H of Fig. 10.

rack surface 22 being disposed r beneath slot [3. The forward endportion of the Fig. 12 is a detailed perspective view of the variablepusher block control stop.

Fig. 13 is a, detail View of the device shown in Fig. 12.

Referring in detail to the drawings, I, indicate horizontal framemembers and 2, 2 indicate vertical frame members comprising a portion ofthe front wall of a dispensing cabinet. The entire cabinet, for purposesof clarity, is not shown inasmuch as the present invention is directedparticularl to one of a number of similar units which are duplicated inthe complete cabinet.

The frame members l and 2, 2 define a dispensing opening 3 which isnormally closed by a hinged door 4. A lug 5 is positioned beneath, andadjacent each side of the opening 3 and a hinge pin 6 carried by thedoor 4 is journalled in the spaced lugs whereby said door may be swunginto and out of closure position. In view ;of the fact that dispensingcabinets are frequently refrigerated, when used to dispense frozen foodsor the like, the door may be insu- Ilated, being of relatively thickconstruction and having an inwardly extending block '1 upon its innerface. A handle 3 is carried upon the outer face of the door whereby thedoor can be con- .veniently opened and closed.

Extending rearwardly from the opening 3 and inwardly with respect to thecabinet front wall is a pair of merchandise supports or ways 9 which arepreferably constructed of metal. Each of the ways 9 is similar having ahorizontal supporting .portion In and a guide portion II, theterminating edge being flanged outwardly, as

shown best at l2. The opposite longitudinal edges of the ways are foldedupon themselves and are spaced from each other to provide a :slot I3.

As will be hereinafter more fully described and a pusher block I5 isadapted to be guided for longitudinal movement along said ways by theslot l3.

A pair of channel members I6 having outwardly extending flanges H aresecured, preferably by welding or the like, to the lower surfaces of theways 9, said members being spaced longitudinally from each other. Eachof the members It carries a pivot pin which in turn swingably supports acam bar [9. A pair of arcuately spaced stops 2i! and 20' are alsocarried by the channel members it, stops 20 being adapted to 'limitcounterclockwise rotation of the bars l9,

and stops 253' being adapted to limit clockwise rotation of said bars,as viewed in Figs. 1, 2, 5

and 6. The function of the cam bars l9 will be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

A rack 2| is slidably positioned between the lwebs of each channel Itand is supported upon the free ends of the cam bars l9, the upper orimmediately rack 2| is provided with an inclined recess 23 forming ahook adapted for engagement with a cable 24. The opposite end of cable24 engages .with a hook 23 secured to door 4, the block 7 be- .ingslotted, as shown best at 26 in Figs. 1 and 2,

to receive the cable. A threshold 21 having a curved forward edge 28 ispositioned at the lower defining edge of the opening 3, the threshold.being also slotted, as shown best at 23 in Fig. 3,

for the reception of cable 24. A pulley or roller 3!] is positioned inthe slot 29 and the cable 24 is adapted to pass thereunder intermediateits length.

The length of the cable 24 is such that when the door 4 is opened abouthinge pins 6 the ratchet bar 2| moves forwardly within channels |6 apredetermined distance. To retract the bar 2| and also apply tension tothe door 4 to resiliently resist opening thereof, a coil spring 3| isanchored at one end upon an intermediate portion of bar 2| and at theother end upon the U-bent portion of the rear channel [3. It will benoted that the spring 3|, by virtue of its anchorages exerts both ahorizontal force, or force along the length of bar 2| and a verticalforce, or force at right-angles to the length of the bar, the latterforce tending to maintain bar 2| seated upon the free ends of the cambars IS.

The lower surface of the ratchet bar is provided with two similarrecesses 32 of generally trapezoidal contour. However, the rear definingedge of each of the recesses 32 is curved, as shown best at 33 in Figs.5 and 6. The upper end of each of the cam bars I!) has a double curved Ocontour, shown best at 34 and 35 in Fig. 6, being the forward andrearward curved surfaces respectively. The radius of curvature of thesurface 34 is substantially the same as that of the defining edge 33 ofrecess 32, as shown best in Fig. 5, whereby when the bar 2| is in theposition shown in said figure the curved surface 33 of the recess andthe curved surface 34 of the cam bar are in substantial coincidence.

The position of the recesses 32, the stops '20, and th length of thecable 24 are socorrelated that when the door 4 is closed, the parts arein the position shown in Fig. 5, that is, the ratchet bar 2| is in itslowermost position and the cam bars l9 are in contact with the stopsWhen the door 4 is opened, the cable 24 is tensioned pulling the ratchetbar 2| forwardly toward said door. This movement rocks the cam bars H3in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, whereby theratchet bar is raised against the Vertical component of the force of thespring 3|.

As the opening of the door progresses, the cam bars come into limitingposition against the stops 20 and thereafter sliding movement of theratchet bar takes place along the surfaces 34 of said cam bars, as shownbest in Fig. 6.

The lower edge of the ratchet bar is provided with a pair of recesses 36of substantially trapezoidal contour, which are spaced from therespective pair of recesses 32 a distance equal to substantially thehorizontal .throw of the ratchet bar which in turn is dependent uponhorizontal displacement of the hook in its movement from the vertical orclosed position of door 4 to its horizontal or completely openedposition. The curved upper portion of cam bars l9, coming into contactwith the forward inclined defining edges of the recesses tend to moveclockwise, or

rearwardly due to the vertical component of the force of the spring 3|.This rearward canting position of the cam bars moves them away from adead center position and the force of the spring predominates in movingthe cam bars to their clockwise or rearward limiting positions againststops 2D. This permits the ratchet surface 22 to be lowered under theinfluence of spring 31 to substantially the position shown in Fig. 5.

In order to insure that the ratchet bar will be completely lowered atthe limiting forward movement of said bar, that is, when the door 4 iscompletely opened, a pair of transversely positioned aseegeo pins 31is-carri'ed'by the -ratchet'bar- 21. Thor-earward edges of the webs ofthe channels it are tapered, asshown' best at 38 in Figs. 5, 6 and 7,whereby pins-3l come into contact with said tapered surfaces 38 to movethe ratchet bar downwardly under the actuating force of the operator inthe act of opening the door 4.

The =camming action of the tapered surfaces 38 cooperating with pins-3takes placesimultaneously with ratchet bar lowering actionhereinbefore-described as being attributable to spring St eam bars.lfiand recess 36, one being. auxiliary to the. other. It is to beunderstood that the present-invention broadly contemplates either orboth expedients for lowering the ratchet bar.

Anotherdesirable feature of the present inven tionxresides: in the factthat when the ratchet bar is raised by the opening of the door and theforward movement of the ratchet bar ceases while said bar is supportedby the cam bars [9 between the recesses 32 and 36 and while so supportedthe ratchet bars horizontally forward motion is reversed, the bar ispermitted to drop, under the influence of spring 3|, toits lowerinoperative position. This situation may occur when an operatorpartially opens door 4 and for some reason or another, possibly openingthe door in error, permits the door to close before it has beencompletely opened. The partial opening of the door, moves the ratchetbar forwardly and upwardly whereit rides'upon the cam bars IS in theirsubstantially dead center position. As long as the forward'movement ofthe ratchet bar takes place, the. cam bars remain in contact with thestops 20. However, when the motion of the ratchet bar 2| is reversed thecam bars l9 initially move rearwardly with said ratchet bar due tofriction of the curvedsurfaces .34 and the straight surface of theratchet bar. The cam bars [9 are unsupported in. this position by eitherof the stops and hence are easily rotated by the: vertical component ofthe. spring. force in a rearwardly direction and eventually the cam barsfall to their rearward limiting position against stops 20' and bar 2|falls to inoperative position.

The pusher block l comprises essentially a block 39 constructed of woodor other strong, rigid material upon which is carried a housing 40.. A.rod 4| is positioned in housing 4|] and carries a pawl42, the engagingedge of which is adapted to protrude downwardly through slot l3 when theblock. is mounted in operative position upon ways 9. A coil spring 43embraces rod 41 and bears against the pawl 42 resiliently confiningritagainst the-rear wall of the housing 40.

In the operation of the device, the ratchet teeth 2 21 of the ratchetbar 21 operatively engage the pawl42 when theratchet bar is in itsraised position thereby moving the block I5 forwardly along ways 9 whenthe door 4 is being opened. This forward movement of the block I5 movesthe column of cartons l4 forwardly along the ways 9 bringing theforemost cartoninto dispensing position; As the column of cartons thusmoves forwardly the foremost carton moves over the curved surface Z'Bofthe threshold or sill 21 and tipsforwardly into: a reclining positionupon the block I of the door 4 in a convenient position to be grasped bythe operator.

When the door 4 has been completely opened; the ratchet bar 2| drops andis forced to inoperativepositionand; hence, if the operator so desiresthecol'umn of cartons l4 may be pushed rearwardly. since the pusherblocki5 is then disen- 6. gaged and is free to slidably move in -either direction.

This aspect of the invention is of particular importance in the use ofsuch device. For instance, the operator may find that upon ext'ractingthe carton that the wrong merchandise was inadvertently selected. Inthese circumstances the operator can conveniently replace the carton atthe head of the column by merely moving the column rearwardly againstthe then inoperative pusher block, or the carton may merely be replacedin its reclining position upon block- I and the door released wherebythe spring3l will close the door and the carton will be guided by thesurface 28 and the curved surfaces of the block into its originalposition at the head of the column, the door forcing the column ofcartons rearwardly along the ways 9.

Another aspect of the invention is of importance in use and isillustrated by the following situation. The operator may partially openthe door 4 which moves the cartons forwardly. Then for some reason oranother the operator may decide not to completely open the door norextract a carton, but merely releases the door. The spring Si, in thesecircumstances, tends to reverse the movement of the ratchet' bar andthussaid bar drops from operative position with respect to pawl 42permitting the door'4 to slidably move the column of cartons and pusherblock I5 rearwardly.

Both of these features of the invention. are: of particular importancewhere the cabinet is a refrigerating cabinet and the merchandisecontainedis perishable, since it is imperative thatthe doors of thecabinet be closed when no dispensing operation is taking place and notbe obstructed by a jammed carton and, further, that the goods beingperishable, it is imperativethat a convenient and simple means beprovided for permitting the operator to return the goods to arefrigerated zone. In addition, units of the cabinet can veryconveniently be charged or loaded through the dispensing openings which,of course, also involved a free rearwardly movement of the pusher block.

Another problem solved by the present invention resides in a pusherblock construction which permits the degree movement of the pusher blockto be independently controlled with respect to the degree of movement ofthe ratchet bar 2!. This featureof the invention is particularlyimportant where cartons or other articles of merchandise in the cabinetare of different thicknesses or depth dimensions. The present inventioncontemplates a pusher block construction characterized by the fact thateach unit of the cabinet may carry different sized cartons withinselected ranges.

As has been hereinbefore described, the opera-- tive end of pawl 42engages the ratchet teeth 22, and that said pawl is resiliently movablealong the length of rod 4|. To control the movement of the pawl 42 uponrod 4|, a secondrod 44 is carried by housing 40 and a variable stopmember 45 is mounted upon said rod within the housing. The member 45 isrigidly mounted upon rod 44 and a coil spring 46 embraces said rod andurges the rod and member 45 forwardly toward the forward wall of thehousing. The rod 44' protrudes through the forward wall of the housingand the end thereof extends into a cavity 47 provided in the front faceof the block 39. A knob 48 is mounted upon the extending end of therod'4'4 within the cavity 47 whereby the rod 44 may be conveniently rotated,A plurality of appropriately spaced indicia 49 are radially positionedupon the face of the block 39 and indicate, in conjunction with the knob48, the angular position of the rod 44.

The rear edge of the variable stop member 45 is provided with aplurality of stepwise arranged shoulders which may be rotated when rod44 is rotated into the path of travel of the pawl 42. Thus, forwardmovement of the pawl 42 compresses spring 43 but does not move block Iuntil said pawl comes into contact with one of the shoulders 58, atwhich time the pusher block is moved in step with the pawl and ratchetbar. It can readily be seen that the degree of free movement of the pawlcan be predetermined by the angular position of the rod 44 and stopmember 45, by bringing a selected spaced shoulder 56 into the path oftravel of the pawl 42.

The scale or indicia 49 is calibrated with respect to the position ofthe respective shoulders 50 whereby the throw of the pusher block may becontrolled. This throw in turn determines the degree of movement of thecolumn of cartons with each complete opening of the door 4 and is socorrelated with the thickness or depth of the cartons as to move thecarton column one or more complete carton thickness forwardly.

In order to appropriately set the variable stop member 45 so that one orthe other of the shoulders 50 is in proper alignment with the path oftravel of the pawl 2, a plurality of notches or scallops 5| are providedupon the edge of the member opposite the shoulders 55. The forward wallof the housing 4!) is provided with a struck-up bead 52 which cooperateswith one or the other of the notches 5i to orient the member 45, saidmember being resiliently urged to the forward wall and the bead 52formed thereon by the spring 46.

As can be readily seen in Figs. 9 and 10, walls of the housing isterminate in a pair of opposite U-shaped beads 53 which slidably embracethe oppositely disposed edges of the supporting surfaces Hl of the ways9. guided in its longitudinal movement along the ways.

Depending upon which shoulder 50 is disposed in the path of travel ofthe pawl 42, movement of the ratchet bar 2! will impart more or lessfree movement to the pawl 42 against spring 43 without moving block 55.During this free movement or lost motion, however, a degree of potentialenergy is stored in the spring 45 which tends to move the block l5.Therefore, in order to prevent movement of the block due to thecompression of spring 45 and only permit said block to move whenpositive contact of the pawl 42 with one of the shoulders 58 occurs, apair of pins 54 are slidably mounted within oppositely positioned boresin the block 39. The pins 54 are preferably constructed of rubber orother material having a relatively high coefficient or friction and areeach pressed by a coil spring 55 so that the ends of said pins areresiliently urged into frictional contact with the upper surfaces of thesupporting surfaces it. To prevent unintended removal of the pins 54,keys 55 engage in notches 5i provided in the pins, said keys beingremovably positioned in the block 39.

It can readily be seen that herein is provided a dispensing device whichhas features which render it adaptable for the semi-automatic dispensingof merchandise, the device being simple and convenient to operate makingit ideally suited The block I5 is thus for use by retail trade inself-service stores. The device is also flexible in its ready adaptationto cartons or articles of diiferent thickness or depth dimensions, theadjustments necessary being reduced to a minimum.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a dispensing cabinet having a dispensing opening in a wallthereof, a door swingably mounted adjacent said opening forming aclosure for said opening, stationary supporting means for merchandisemounted within said cabinet adjacent said opening, means for slidablymoving merchandise on said supporting means to dispensing positionadjacent said opening, comprising a pusher block slidably mounted uponsaid supporting means, means connecting said moving means to said doorcomprising a rack slidably positioned adjacent said supporting means,and a cable connecting said rack and door whereby opening of said doormoves said rack toward said door, a pawl carried by said pusher blockfor engagement with said rack, and means for rendering the connectionbetween the pawl and rack inoperative by predetermined movement of saiddoor.

2. In a dispensing cabinet having a dispensing opening in a wallthereof, a door swingably mounted adjacent said opening forming aclosure for said opening, stationary supporting mean for merchandisemounted within said cabinet adjacent said opening, a pusher blockslidably mounted upon said supporting means in pushing position withrespect to said merchandise, a rack positioned adjacent andsubstantially parallel to said supporting means, a pawl carried uponsaid pusher block, means connecting said rack and the door to move saidrack toward the dispensing opening when the door is opening, swingablemeans for moving said rack into engagement with said pawl when said rackmoves toward said opening to slide said merchandise upon said support,and mean for retracting said rack from engagement with said pawl bypredetermined movement of said door.

3. In a dispensing cabinet having a dispensing opening in a wallthereof, a door swingably mounted adjacent said opening forming aclosure for said opening, stationary supporting means for merchandisemounted within said cabinet adjacent said opening, a pusher blockslidably mounted upon said supporting means in pushing position withrespect to said merchandise, a rack positioned adjacent andsubstantially parallel to said supporting means, a pawl carried uponsaid pusher block, means connecting said rack and the door to move saidrack toward the dispensing opening when the door is opening, swingablemeans for moving said rack into engagement with said pawl when said rackmoves toward said opening to slide said merchandise upon said support,and means for retracting said rack from engagement with said pawl, whensaid rack has moved a predetermined distance toward said opening.

4. In a dispensing cabinet having a dispensing opening in a wallthereof, a door swingably mounted adjacent said opening forming aclosure for said opening, supporting means for merchandise mountedwithin said cabinet adjacent said opening, a pusher bloc-k slidablymounted upon said supporting means, a rack positioned adjacent andsubstantially parallel to said supporting means, a pawl carried uponsaid pusher block, means connecting said rack and the door to move 7said rack toward the dispensing opening when the door is opening,swingable means for moving said rack into engagement with said pawl whensaid rack moves toward said opening, and means for retracting said rackfrom engagement with said pawl when said door is moved toward closedposition.

5. In a dispensing cabinet having a dispensing opening in a wallthereof, a door swingably mounted adjacent said opening forming aclosure for said opening, supporting means for merchandise mountedwithin said cabinet adjacent said opening, a pusher block slidablymounted upon said supporting means, a rack positioned adjacent saidsupporting means, means connecting said rack and said door to move saidrack toward said door when the door is opening, a pawl movably carriedby said pusher block for engagement with said rack, an adjustable stopcarried by said pusher block said pawl being resiliently biased toward arearward position with respect to said stop and block permitting apredetermined independent movement of said pawl with respect to saidblock, and means for disengaging said rack and pawl by a predeterminedmovement of said door. 1

6. In combination, a rack, means for moving said rack forwardly in alongitudinal direction, single resilient means for resisting saidforward movement and tending to urge said rack rearwardly anddownwardly, movable means for supporting said rack, said rack beingslidably supported upon the upper portion of said movable means in anupper position and in a lower position, forward movement of said rackraising said movable means to upper supporting position and rearwardmovement of said rack lowering said movable means to said lowersupporting position, and a pawl positioned a predetermined distanceabove said rack and engageable with said rack when said rack is in itsupper position and disengageable from said rack when said rack is in itslower position.

7. In combination, a rack, means for moving said rack forwardly in alongitudinal direction, single resilient means for resisting saidforward movement and tending to urge said rack rearwardly anddownwardly, movable means for supporting said rack in an upper positionand in a lower position, forward movement of said rack raising saidmovable means to upper supporting ent means, said movable meanscomprising an eccentrically pivoted member upon which said rack issupported, and means upon said rack for swinging said member about itspivot toa substantially dead center position when the rack movesforwardly to position the rack a predetermined maximum distance abovesaid pivot, rearward movement of said rack moving said member away fromdead center position to its lower supporting position.

8. In combination, a rack, means for moving said rack forwardly in alongitudinal direction, single resilient means for resisting saidforward movement and tending to urge said rack rearwardly anddownwardly, movable means for supporting said rack in an upper positionand in a lower position, forward movement of said rack raising saidmovable means to upper supporting position against said resilient meansand rearward movement of said rack lowering said movable means to saidlower supporting position, and a pawl positioned a predetermineddistance above said rack and engageable with said rack when said rack isin its upper position and disengagefrom said rack when said rack movesto its lower position under the influence of said resilient means, saidmovable means comprising a lever pivoted adjacent one end upon the freeend of which said rack is supported, and means upon said rack forswinging said lever about its pivot to a substantially dead centerposition when the rack moves forwardly to position said rack apredetermined maximum distance above said pivot, rearward movement ofsaid rack moving said lever away from dead center position to its lowersupporting position.

MILTON RIFKIN.

SIDNEY EVERETT WEBSTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,060,007 Matthews Apr. 29, 19131,572,263 Ash Feb. 9, 1926 1,804,534 Jones May 12, 1931 1,829,140Hitchman Oct. 27, 1931 1,856,038 Garis Apr. 26, 1932 1,925,953 Cox Sept.5, 1933 2,216,980 Miller Oct. 8, 1940 2,460,396 Rifkin Feb. 1, 1949FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 458,987 France Q. of 1913

